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Zahra Benyounes - viola

Zahra Benyounes enjoys an international career as an orchestral, chamber and recording musician. Founding the Benyounes Quartet in 2007, she has gained recognition performing as first violinist with the ensemble, winning the RPS Julius Isserlis Scholarship and prizes at the Orlando and Sandor Vegh international competitions amongst others. Working proactively to engage wider audiences, she co-directs the annual South Downs Summer Music International Festival with longstanding friend and colleague Emily Holland.

As a life long violinist, Zahra now embarks on a new venture discovering the expressive qualities of the viola. She has been drawn to the special timbre and sonority of the instrument and is excited to add this extra dimension to her musical journey. Zahra made her debut at the Concertgebouw with the Piatti Quartet in November 2022.

Amongst her chamber music collaborations Zahra counts internationally renowned artists such as Tai Murray, Melvyn Tan, Barry Douglas, Nicky Spence, Tim Ridout and Julian Bliss, with performances at venues including Vienna Konzerthaus, Wigmore Hall and Edinburgh and Verbier Festivals. She is the violinist of the Benyounes Piano Trio with pianist Jeremy Young and cellist Eve-Marie Caravassalis.

In 2021 she lead the Chineke! Orchestra in reopening the Royal Festival Hall, and later at the BBC Proms. She is a member of the 12 Ensemble – London's trail blazing un-conducted string orchestra and performs with John Wilson's Sinfonia of London. Leading UK ensembles regularly welcome Zahra as guest principal including the London Contemporary Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, CBSO, Philharmonia, BBCNOW, and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Principal teachers have included Maciej Rakowski, Gabor Takacs-Nagy and the Quatuor Ebene. As a teacher herself, Zahra has joined the faculty of chamber music at the RNCM, and has given lessons and masterclasses Chetham's, Trinity Laban and Birmingham Conservatoire.

Equally at home in the recording studio, Zahra spends much of her career working for film, TV and record producers at major London studios. She has recorded for a multitude of commercial artists, primarily as part of Wired Strings, including Rhianna, Stormzy, and on albums by Celine Dion, Little Simz, Michael Kiwanuka and Adele and has performed at events including Glastonbury, The Brits and London Fashion Week.

She plays on a beautiful 1682 Nicolo Amati kindly made available to her from the Boucher Trust.

“Much beauty here, and a special word for the violin solos by the orchestra’s leader, Zahra Benyounes, each one exquisitely toned and phrased”
Seen & Heard International 2021

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